Only they had the cruise missiles that could take out Col Gaddafi's air defence system.

BBC: Will Sarkozy get a statue in Tripoli?

It also carries the advanced AEGIS air defence system that is rapidly becoming the backbone of US naval radar.

BBC: News | In Depth | Military Fact Files

They also noted the deployment of Russia's most advanced S-400 air defence system in Belarus and a parallel drill conducted by the Strategic Rocket Forces, the guardians of the Kremlin's nuclear arsenal.

ECONOMIST: NATO and Russia

Poles expect that these will be American-financed, part of NATO's commitment to the country's defence, and fully integrated with Poland's own air-defence system.

ECONOMIST: Missile defence in Europe

And Syria's army has not so far managed to buy the air-defence system from Russia that it would like.

ECONOMIST: Syria

Britain, France and Italy, having recently decided, after years of dithering, not to build a frigate together, still hope to produce a joint sea-based air-defence system which would have some capacity against missiles.

ECONOMIST: Rockets overhead

As a benign example of how transatlantic teams can stimulate competition in high-tech weapons making, defence analysts cite the fierce competition to supply Britain with an air-to-ground surveillance system.

ECONOMIST: Platform envy